21^st Century Achan's

By Joshua Goodwin

Many Christians are familiar with the story of Achan. When the children of Israel captured the city of Jericho they were commanded not to take anything of the city, because it was cursed. However, Achan disregarded Joshua’s orders and took a “goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight”.

We are all familiar with how the story of Achan turned out. When the Israelites went up against the city of Ai – a weak, small city that they should have easily captured – they were soundly defeated. God showed Joshua that the reason they had suffered defeat was because someone had disobeyed and taken of the accursed things of Jericho. God was true to His word – “in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.”

After casting lots it was determined that Achan was the guilty party. He readily admitted his sin – “When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.”

Looking at this lesson, I couldn’t help but contrast the actions of the Achan of the Old Testament with the behaviors of modern day Achan’s.

Babylonish Garments

Old Testament Achan buried his Babylonish garments in the ground, because he was too ashamed to wear it even in the privacy of his own tent. 21^st century Achan’s defiantly wear their Babylonish garments right in the house of God.

Admitted Wrongdoing

Old Testament Achan recognized that he had acted contrary to the instructions of the man of God. 21^st century Achan’s completely disregard the ministry and insolently declare that they will decide for themselves what they can or can’t do.

Hurting God’s People

Old Testament Achan felt genuine guilt and responsibility that his actions had caused not only the children of Israel to suffer defeat in battle, but had also caused 36 men to lose their lives. 21^st century Achan’s don’t care who is hurt by their actions – if others are hurt that’s there problem not mine.

Rationalizing Behavior

Old Testament Achan didn’t try and rationalize his taking of the gold and silver and say he just took it to give to the Lord (similar to King Saul’s excuse for not destroying the Amalekites). 21^st century Achan’s make up every excuse possible to try and justify their behavior.

Doesn’t Apply To Me

Old Testament Achan realized that God’s Word applied to Him and that he had transgressed God’s commands. 21^st century Achan’s think they can decide for themselves which parts of God’s Word applies to them.

Israel had previously won a major victory over the city of Jericho which was a major obstacle in their pathway. Now they can’t seem to capture even a weak city. Does this sound familiar in your life? Do you wonder why you don’t have the victory that you once had? Do you question why you struggle with things that you should be able to easily gain victory over? Have you partaken of the “accursed things” of Jericho? And even worse, are you boldly displaying it in front of God’s people?

These are some penetrating questions. Have we as a people gotten to the point that wearing Babylonish garments or pursuing the gold and silver of Jericho is more important than going on with God. Israel needed to be reminded that they hadn’t yet captured the Promised Land, they’d only taken a single city. After a single victory are we ready to sit back and relax our commitment to God and to each other?

I believe that there are still more cities to be captured! There are still more victories to be won! There is still more land for the people of God to take! But before we can expect to win another victory we need to look inside our tents. How many of the accursed things of Jericho have we accumulated? Are they worth causing our brothers and sisters to lose their lives over? Are they worth trading the land of milk and honey for?

Let’s take the silver and gold and consecrate them unto the Lord. Let’s leave the Babylonish garments in Babylon. Let’s allow the accursed things of Jericho to perish in Jericho. And let’s follow our captain to the victories that have been promised if we live according to the Word of God.